Luminous Watchband

ABSTRACT

A watchband segment includes a flexible substrate and a luminous inset attached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to watchbands. The invention moreparticularly, although not exclusively, relates to a watchband includingluminescent features.

SUMMARY

An inexpensive flexible watchband that glows in the dark.

A watchband segment comprises a flexible substrate and a luminous insetattached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate.

Preferably, the substrate comprises silicone.

Preferably, the luminous inset comprises silicone and luminescentmaterial selected from the group consisting of: silver-activated zincsulphide; and strontium aluminate blended therewith.

Preferably, the luminous inset is heat-pressed to the substrate.

Preferably, the substrate comprises an array of pin apertures which donot pass directly through the luminous inset, but are bounded by it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a luminous inset for a watchbandsegment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a watchband segment including theluminous inset of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the watchband segmenttaken at III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a luminous inset for a complementarywatchband segment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the complementary watchband segmentincluding the luminous inset of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the watchband segmenttaken at VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional end elevation of either watchbandsegment taken at VII-VII in either FIG. 2 or FIGS. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of detail indicated atVIII in FIGS. 3 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a pair ofwatchband segments each comprising a substrate 12 formed a flexiblematerial such as leather, but typically a plastics material such assilicone rubber is chosen.

Set into the upper surface of the substrate 12 is a “glow light” orluminous inset 11. The luminous inset 11 typically comprises luminescentmaterial such as silver-activated zinc sulphide, or doped strontiumaluminate mixed with a base of silicone. The luminous inset is typicallyheat-pressed into a recess (visible at FIG. 7) during the manufacturingprocess.

The substrate has a row of apertures 13. These apertures do not passthrough the luminous inset, but rather are positioned in an area boundedby the luminous inset. The apertures 13 are simply those through which abuckle pin (not shown) extends when attaching the watch about a wearer'swrist.

As shown in FIG. 8, the luminous inset 11 at one end of the eachwatchband segment wraps partially around a transverse watch-connectionpin aperture 14.

As the luminescent material is relatively expensive, the entire surfacearea of the watchband is not covered by the luminous inset. Rather, alarge non-luminous area is bounded by it.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious tothose skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the silicone substrate could belight transmissive so that light emanating from the luminous insetpasses into the substrate and is visible at the sides.

1. A watchband segment comprising a flexible substrate and a luminousinset attached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate. 2.The watchband segment of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprisessilicone.
 3. The watchband of claim 1 wherein the luminous insetcomprises silicone and luminescent material selected from the groupconsisting of: silver-activated zinc sulphide; and strontium aluminateblended with silicone.
 4. The watchband of claim 1, wherein the luminousinset is heat-pressed to the substrate.
 5. The watchband of claim 1,wherein the substrate comprises an array of pin apertures which do notpass directly through the luminous inset, but are bounded by it.